Submitted by Bill R. King, AUG 2005
Allen Page Murder (1859)
Conecuh County, Alabama
Copied from ‘History of Conecuh County, Alabama’, by Rev. Benjamin
Franklin Riley,
Pastor of the Opelika Baptist Church, pages 148-152; Columbus GA.:
Thos. Gilbert, Steam Printer and Book-Binder, Published 1881
During the following year (1859), a brutal tragedy was enacted in Fork Sepulga.
Mr. Allen Page, a prominent and highly respected citizen, had started a number
of wagons, loaded with cotton, from his gin house, on Tuesday morning, toward
Claiborne. In company with Mr. John Wright, Sr., he followed the wagons the
next day, in a buggy, and reached Claiborne at night. Having cautiously concealed
a gun beneath the cotton in one of the wagons, Irvin Ward accompanied the
party until within a short distance of Claiborne, when he separated himself
from them, and turned into a road leading to a landing above Claiborne, announcing
his purpose to visit some relations living in Clarke County. Before sundering
(?) himself from the wagons, however, he informed himself, with the utmost
minuteness, with respect to the intention of Messrs. Page and Wright to sell
their cotton on Thursday, and to return home on Friday. Having passed beyond
the view of the wagons, Ward retraced his steps, hurried back toward his
home, and engaged with his brother, Stephen, in the formation of a plot to
murder and rob Messrs. Page and Wright upon their return. Accordingly, they
placed a small log across the road on the east side of Little Brewer Creek,
and within six miles of the home of Mr. Page, in order to check them when
they should reach the spot. One of the brothers screened himself behind a
pine log, which ran parallel with the road, and in order the more effectually
to conceal himself, had stuck here and there, about him, quite a number of
gall bushes.
The other was secreted about twenty yards to the rear. Both were armed with
double-barrel guns. Ere long, the rumbling of the wheels of the buggy was heard,
and the murderers lay silently awaiting the favorable moment to fire. The horse
reached the log; a short colloquy ensued as to the strange appearance of the
log across the road; some doubt was expressed with regard to the inability
of the buggy to roll over it, when Mr. Wright proposed to alight and to remove
it. Just as he had thrown it aside, a load of buckshot was discharged into
the bosom of Allen Page, who was seated in the buggy. He instantly threw up
his hands and exclaimed, “I am killed“, and was in the act of falling
from the buggy, when Mr. Wright bounded forward and caught him. Just at this
moment another barrel was discharged at Wright, the contents of which did but
little execution, as but few shot penetrated his skin. His clothes, however,
were sadly perforated by the bullets. It was afterwards ascertained that the
most of the load of the second barrel took effect in a root of the log behind
which Ward was concealed. Snatching up the lifeless body of Mr. Page, Mr. Wright
applied the whip to the excited horse, and dashed up the road at full speed.
He left the corpse at the home of Mrs. Bidgood, two miles from the scene of
the horrible transaction. In a few hours the community was thoroughly aroused,
and excited crowds gathered about the scene of the murder. A pack of Negro
dogs, belonging to Mr. Jones, was brought into requisition, but were unable
to indicate the direction taken by the fugitive murderers. The most intense
excitement, mingled with honest indignation, prevailed on all hands. The general
reputation of Irvin Ward, coupled with his suspicious conduct on the day preceding
the tragedy, led to his arrest. His younger brother, Stephen, was not suspected
as being an accomplice, at the time. Irvin Ward was subjected to a rigid examination
before Justice K. R. Page. Upon his statement that he had been on a visit to
relatives in Clarke County, a runner was sent hither, and it was ascertained
that he had not at all visited Clarke.
A committee of gentlemen was formed, whose duty it was to ascertain the whereabouts
of every man in the community, for several days previous to the murder. The
statements of the two brothers, Ward, were found to be false in many essential
particulars, and they were seized and held in close custody, until further
developments could be made. Finally, after the accumulation of considerable
circumstantial evidence against them, they openly confessed themselves to have
been the perpetrators of the bloody deed. This confession was made at the home
of the deceased, and in the presence of about one hundred auditors. Public
notice was now given that they would be hanged the following day at 1 P.M.
at the spot where the deed was perpetrated and just one week subsequent to
the bloody transaction. Messengers were dispatched in all directions giving
due notice of the proposed execution.
Strong guards were placed around the house and on every approach thereto. A
brother of the murderers hastened to Sparta that night, and endeavored to secure
the interposition of the sheriff on behalf of the murderers. But he would not
interfere. An excited and determined populace had resolved upon the speedy
execution of the murderers, and had determined to shoot down any parties who
should undertake their rescue.
A rude gallows was erected over the spot where the deed was perpetrated; the
murderers were marched out in front of about forty citizens and to the place
of execution, six miles distant. When they had come near the homes of the Wards,
they were met by their relatives -- the old parents, brothers and sisters,
and the wife of Stephen Ward, bearing in her arms an infant of six weeks. The
place of execution was reached and a statement was made by the murderers. They
said that no malice had prompted the bloody deed, for Mr. Page was among their
best friends. He had relieved their wants, and those of their families, when
their father could not. They had murdered him for the purpose of robbing him
of the proceeds of the cotton. After this, the ropes were adjusted by P. D.
Page, Esq., and William Wright, and they swung just at 1 o’clock, on
Friday, the 18th of November, 1859. When they had ceased to breathe, their
bodies were taken in charge by the father and brothers.
The sons of Mr. Page, deceased, sent a number of Negro men to dig their graves
and to assist in a decent interment. At the approaching session of the Circuit
Court, bills of indictment were found against about forty of those who were
most active in the prosecution and execution of the Wards, and bonds were fixed
at $1,000. Judge J. K. Henry, at the next term of the Circuit Court, caused
a nol. pros. of all the cases, and thus the public mind became quiet upon a
subject which had engrossed it for so long a period.
Note: The Ward brothers were buried in Ward Cemetery (T. 7, R 11, Section
10), located NE of Bowles Church, about 12 miles from Evergreen (East of Hwy
83). Their unmarked graves lay North/South and not facing East, as is the usual
custom. They were the sons of William and Margaret Ward.
Their date of death/hanging was November 18, 1859. See page 269 of ‘Conecuh
Headstones’, Volume 1.
Allen Page, Tribute of Respect,
Masonic Hall, Sepulga Lodge, No. 238?, Starlington, Ala.
June 2nd, 1860 [Copied from the June 16, 1860 South Alabamian]
The committee appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the feelings of
the Lodge towards our beloved brother, Allen Page, who was murdered by highway
robbers on the 11th day of November, 1859, offer the following:
WHEREAS, In the untimely death of our beloved brother Allen Page, Conecuh
County has lost one of her oldest, best, and most useful citizens, and the
Lodge, as well as the Fraternity at large, have been deprived of an exemplary
and worthy member, whose memory we revere, and loss we sincerely deplore. Plain,
honest, unassuming, and an honorable high minded gentleman in every particular.
He had been a citizen of Conecuh County for many years, and his kind and affable
disposition had won him many valuable friends. His social qualities and ardent
affections made him a kind parent and good neighbor, a devoted and confiding
friend. And even his murderers had not a better friend on earth, they having
applied to him again and again for favors, and were never denied. His love
of truth and rectitude, his ready frankness in censuring wrong was proverbial
wherever he was known. He has left a large and interesting family to deplore
his untimely death, with whom we most sincerely sympathize. But while we mourn,
we mourn not as those who have no hope, for we are well assured that our loss
is his eternal gain.
Resolved, That in the untimely death of our brother Page, the community has
lost a valuable and worthy citizen, and the Fraternity a member whose Masonic
character is altogether unimpeachable, whose virtues are proverbial, and whose
attachment to the principals of our order, firm and unflinching.
Resolved, that we tender to the bereaved widow and family our heart-felt and
sincere sympathies in their great bereavement.
Resolved, That as a further testimony of the friendship and esteem we bear
towards our departed brother, that his name and age be inscribed upon a blank
page in the records of the Lodge. That this Preamble and Resolutions be spread
upon the minutes of the Lodge, and that we wear the usual badge of mourning
for thirty days.
Resolved, that the Secretary furnish a copy of these resolutions to the widow
of the deceased, and the same be published in the newspapers of Butler County.
Coleman O'Gwynn, Moses Myrick, W.P. Myers, Committee
The Family of Allen Page & Sarah A. Wright
Of Conecuh County, Alabama
Allen Page b: Abt. 1804 Georgia d: Nov 10, 1859 Near Fork Sepulga, Conecuh
Co, AL
.. +Sarah A. Wright b: Abt. 1810 SC d: 1889 Conecuh Co, AL
Children:
....... 2 James W. Page b: Abt. 1829 Conecuh CO, AL
........... +Catherine L. 'Unk' b: Abt. 1840 AL
....... 2 Mary A. Page b: Abt. 1831 Conecuh CO, AL
....... 2 Patrick Donovan Page b: Abt. 1834 Conecuh CO, AL
........... +Anna D. Mitchell b: 1834
....... 2 Kinchin R. Page b: Abt. 1835
....... 2 Susan Page b: Abt. 1837 AL
....... 2 Elizabeth Page b: Abt. 1839
....... 2 Haskew Page b: Abt. 1841 Conecuh CO, AL d: Unk Conecuh CO, AL
........... +Laura Autrey b: 1849 Conecuh CO, AL d: 1925 Conecuh CO, AL
May 1850 Conecuh County, AL Census, page 340 B:
Family # 147
PAGE ALLEN 46 M FARMER GA $2,000
PAGE *SARAH 31 F SC <nee Wright>
PAGE MARY 19 F AL
PAGE SUSAN* 18 F AL In School
PAGE ELIZABETH 11 F AL In School
PAGE JAMES 21 M SCH TEACHER AL
PAGE PATRICK D 16 M FARMER AL
PAGE KINCHEN 15 M FARMER AL In School
PAGE ASKINS 9 M (Haskew?) AL
1860 Conecuh County Census
House # 31 Family # 27 Evergreen Post Office
*Sarah A. Page, age 50- b.NC $10,000/$22,265 <widow, nee: Wright>
Mary A. Page, age 29- b.AL
Kinchin R., age 24- b. AL - Farm Overseer
Susan, age 22 - b.AL - Teacher C. School
Haskel, age 18 - b.AL - Student
William Ward Family
1850 Conecuh County, AL Census Transcribed
Family #158
WARD WM. 62 M SC FARMER 350
WARD MARGARET 60 F SC
WARD LEONA 30 F SC
WARD ELLINDER 30 F GA
WARD * IRVIN 23 M AL
WARD * STEPHEN 16 M AL
*Stephen & Irvin Ward shot and killed Allen Page on 10 Nov. 1859.
Neither of their names appear on the 1860 Census records.
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